KameLo Living
The Backyard Is the New Wellness Retreat
Ice baths, outdoor saunas and spa-style decking are taking over Aussie backyards this spring — here's where DIY makes sense and where it pays to call a professional.
Why fly to Bali when the reset you're after is out your back door? Across Australia, backyards are quietly turning into wellness zones — cold plunges next to the pool, barrel saunas tucked into the garden, and decking built specifically for hot tubs rather than the tub just sitting on top of it.
Spring is the sweet spot to set this up — mild enough to work outside all weekend, early enough to be ready before the first heatwave. Below is what actually needs checking before you build, section by section, plus the gear that makes each stage easier.
This is general prep guidance, not a substitute for professional advice. Rules on pool/spa fencing, electrical work and structural loads vary by state and council — always confirm requirements with your local council and a licensed tradesperson before building.
New Arrival Jumbo Head Cooling Pad — an 18°C PCM insert that fits inside a hard hat or helmet for reusable cooling. Freeze, insert and go — just check it stays compliant with your headgear's fit and suspension.
1. The Cold Plunge Corner
What to check before you install it:
- Install it on a flat, stable and load-bearing surface in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. A filled tank may contain hundreds of litres of water, so soft lawn or decking that has not been assessed for the load may be unsuitable.
- Plan a fill and drain point before you commit to a spot — you'll want a garden tap nearby and somewhere sensible for the water to go each time you empty it (not straight onto neighbouring garden beds if you're using chemicals).
- If it's going on top of existing decking, check the deck's rated load capacity against the combined weight of the tank, water and however many people might be in it at once — this is an easy but important detail to overlook.
- Lay a non-slip surface immediately around the tank to reduce the risk of slips on wet decking or pavers.
- Check whether your council treats it as a "portable pool" or "spa" for fencing purposes — in most Australian states, any body of water capable of holding more than around 300mm depth can trigger pool-safety fencing or isolation requirements, even for a temporary or seasonal setup. Rules differ by state, so confirm with your council before you finalise the plan.
🛠 Gear for this step
Handy for the afternoon spent levelling ground, running plumbing fittings, and testing the fill in the sun.
2. Choose the Right Location for Your Sauna and Cold Plunge
What to Consider Before Installation:
- Choose a flat, stable and well-drained area that can safely support the full weight of the sauna or plunge pool.
- Check your local council requirements before installation, as approval rules may vary depending on the size, height and location of the structure.
- Plan for convenient access to electricity, water and drainage. Any electrical heater, wiring or connection must be installed by a licensed electrician.
- Allow enough space around the sauna and plunge pool for safe access, ventilation and maintenance.
- Add non-slip surfaces around wet areas to help reduce the risk of slips and falls.
- Consider privacy, shade and proximity to your home so the space remains comfortable and practical throughout the year.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions, including any required clearance from walls, fences and combustible materials.
🛠 Gear for this step
AP-3 is made from flame-resistant leather and is designed to provide additional coverage during suitable workshop and metalworking tasks.
🛠 Face protection for suitable cutting and workshop tasks
F-62AN helps protect the face from flying chips and debris during suitable cutting, drilling and sanding tasks. It does not provide respiratory protection against airborne dust. F-72C includes a clip-on #5 shade lens for compatible metalworking applications — always confirm the shade level and face protection are suitable for the specific process before use. Both currently ship with a free pair of 812-YL gloves.
3. Decking It Out Properly
What to check before you build it:
- If you're integrating a hot tub, plunge tank or spa into the boards, the framing and footings need to carry that combined weight — water plus tub plus people is well beyond a standard deck's design load, so this section usually needs an engineer's check or at minimum beefed-up bearers and footings, not just standard decking span tables.
- Build in a slight fall (slope) and drainage path so water runs off and away rather than pooling around the plunge or under the boards, which speeds up rot.
- Use non-slip decking boards or an anti-slip coating specifically in the wet zones — standard smooth boards get dangerously slick once they're regularly wet.
- Keep the path between plunge, sauna and towel area as one continuous solid surface — a gap of bare grass or mud between wet zones is where most trips and dropped gear happen.
Decking can also involve long hours of sanding, staining and fitting boards in full sun, which is where the ICE FAN VEST genuinely earns its place in the shed.
🛠 Gear for this step
ICE FAN VEST is built for a full day of sanding, staining and fitting boards in the heat. C601 (EN388 Cut Level F / ANSI A7) is a lightweight option for handling screws, brackets and cut timber edges while fitting boards.
4. Landscaping the Space Around It
What to check before you plant it out:
- For privacy screening, check the mature root spread of anything you plant near decking, pipes, footings or the tank itself — fast-growing screening species can lift paving or interfere with plumbing within a few years.
- Think about leaf and flower drop near an uncovered plunge or spa — deciduous or heavy-litter species close to open water mean more frequent cleaning and can clog filters or drains.
- Double-check whether any pool/spa fencing regulations that apply to the plunge also affect what you can plant along the boundary — some councils have rules about climbable objects (including certain plants and garden features) near required pool fencing.
🛠 Gear for this step
606's extended floral cuffs cover the wrist and forearm for reaching into thorny stems like roses. 605 is the shorter, more flexible version for general potting and weeding.
Shop the Summer Range
Whatever you're building this spring, KameLo's cooling gear, sun protection and gardening gloves are made for exactly this kind of weekend DIY — not just the trade site. Browse the full Summer Range or the Gardening collection.
The backyard wellness trend isn't about spending big — it's about carving out a spot that's actually yours, cold plunge and all. Check the boring stuff first (loads, drainage, fencing, electrics), and the right gear makes the rest of the build a project you enjoy rather than one you're rushing to finish before the mozzies come out.